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Toni Talks about PT Today

Working from Home
by Toni Patt
My current job comes with a perk I've never experienced before -- working from home. No, the patients don't come to me. Our documentation is Internet-based so I have the luxury of being able to write notes from home. Some people might say that is a curse, Read More...
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The Red Fish
by Toni Patt
A few weeks ago, I wrote about using the Nintendo Wii and wondering how much help I should give my patients. Since that time, I've settled into helping them to either prevent frustration or teach a new motor program. That creates higher scores while enabling Read More...
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How Much Help Is Too Much?
by Toni Patt
I've been using the Nintendo Wii with more of my patients. This has created a dilemma for me. I don't know how much help to give my patients. At first I didn't help them at all but that wasn't successful. Since then I have alternated between verbal cues Read More...
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The Wonder of Wii
by Toni Patt
A new piece of equipment has found its way into our department, a Nintendo Wii. Up until last weekend I'd never even seen one, much less played with one. The literature is full of articles describing how to use the Wii therapeutically, particularly with Read More...
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My New Pet Peeve
by Toni Patt
We all have things that annoy us. I have a new one at work, the assisted ergometer. It can be used for the UEs or LEs and programmed to provide either resistance or assistance to whoever is working the pedals. To me it is a glorified restorator. What Read More...
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Don't Count These Patients Out
by Toni Patt
It's been a while since I've had more than a few geriatric patients on my caseload. Now that my caseload is all geriatric, I've had to readjust. It's a good thing I didn't forget the first rule of geriatric care. Elderly patients are people, too. They Read More...
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My Morning Coffee Group
by Toni Patt
I like to start work early; the earlier the better. Usually this means I start my day alone. I grab the first patient I find out of bed and get started. Not anymore. A few days ago, I was having trouble convincing a patient to come to therapy. In frustration, Read More...
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Brain or Brawn
by Toni Patt
Last week, I found myself following in the footsteps of a therapist who truly believed in hands-on therapy. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't replicate his treatments. His patients were walking with only therapist-assist. I could barely get them Read More...
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Working on Rehab Again
by Toni Patt
It's been a while since I've had the opportunity to treat patients on our rehab unit. Usually I do evaluations. Someone else does the treatments. Today I actually did some rehab treatments. Not evaluations but 60 minutes of treatment in which I could Read More...
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Don't Touch That Patient
by Toni Patt
I had an unusual conversation with a nurse last week. I was in the neuro ICU preparing to evaluate a patient. I always check with a patient's nurse prior to doing so to make sure the patient is medically stable. Normally the nurses are very helpful and Read More...
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Early Mobilization
by Toni Patt
In last week's issue of ADVANCE for Physical Therapy& Rehab Medicine , the cover story described a three-month clinical trial of early mobilization in the ICU. I wanted to cut it out and post it prominently at work. I think all medically stable ICU Read More...
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I Exercise At Work
by Toni Patt
At least once a week I have a conversation where someone asks me which gym I belong to. I've also been asked for the name of my personal trainer. I usually get a shocked response when I deny both gym membership and a personal trainer. I tell everyone Read More...
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People Watching and Stroke Risk
by Toni Patt
I am a people watcher. Last weekend at the zoo was no exception. I don't look for extreme fashion or hairstyles. Couldn't care less who is with who. I watch how people walk. I do gait analyses. I look for deviations on people who walk past me. Isn't that Read More...
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She Just Loves Her Physical Therapy Nurse
by Toni Patt
A friend told me this story last week. She and her husband were having dinner with another couple. At some point the wife mentioned her mother had broken her hip and was in the hospital. According to the woman, her mother loves her physical therapy nurse. Read More...
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The Results of Getting Involved
by Toni Patt
It's been several months since I was elected as a board member to the Southeast District (SED) of the TPTA. Another meeting is coming up this week. I have nothing to report. That isn't particularly surprising since I only have two responsibilities; the Read More...
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